assignment English · revision 7219

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1393|origins=la assigno}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈsaɪn.mənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English assignement, [[bor|fro|assignement|t=legal assignment of dower]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from Medieval Latin assignamentum, from [[m|la|assigno|alt=assignāre|t=to allot, assign]] (see [[assign]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An order, command or bidding: 1393 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Appointment to an office or to a purpose is from 1447, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The allotting of a share is from 1460,^(OED 1989) and in law the transfer of a right or property from 1592.^(OED 1989) An assignation, an arranged meeting, is an obsolete sense of 1670.^(OED 1989) In Australia, the assigning of convicts to colonists as unpaid servants is from 1843.^(OED 1989) A task assigned, such as schoolwork, is by 1848.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1393 – an order (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1447 – appointment to office.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – legal transfer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – the assignment of convicts.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – a task assigned.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A task or piece of work given to someone, as part of a job or course of study.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A position or post to which someone is assigned.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of assigning.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' The transfer of a right or property, or the document recording it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[misassignment]]

+ * [[nonassignment]]

+ * [[reassignment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[assign]]

+ * [[assignation]]

+ * [[sign]]

+ * [[consign]]

+ * [[design]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}